Texsox Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 I am looking for some attitude changing, team building ideas. As some of you know I am head golf coach for my high school. This year I got started too late to hire and assistant so I have everything, boys, girls, novice to varsity. I am the first "golf guy" to coach the team in years. The other coaches were great guys but basically were doing all they could to manage the business side and get kids where they needed to be. Using my Boy Scout professional training I quickly built a parents network and they are helping me with fundraising, communications, transportation. So that leaves me to recruit and coach. I doubled the team in numbers, I also have the #1 middle school player from last year. Of the twenty guys, 10 are freshman, 4 sophomores, 3 juniors, and 3 seniors. Up until this year the players thought a golf tournament was a day off of school and a chance to f*** around. I just kicked one of the seniors ass (last year the #1 player) when he complained he received a 50 on his report card for golf. I explained he hadn't been cleared by the trainers (he needs a physical) and until he gets on the course, he isn't earning a 100, that I got guys out there busting their butts to improve and he's not helping the team. That his teammates should be able to count on him and he's not there. You could have heard a pin drop. Afterwards I suggested that next time he has a concern, he should talk to me in private but I don't mind discussing matters in front of the whole team. The freshman understand clearly that there is a team we are building here for the long term. the sophomores came quickly in board, and one of the three juniors. Finally one of the seniors has just started kicking ass. But I am stuck with a few juniors and seniors that are just not understanding the changes. Right now, from what I am seeing on the range and putting green I have two freshman, two sophomores, and a junior that could easily be my top 5. I just didn't want to toss them into the fire during the first half of the season. I'd prefer they get some JV experience first, possibly win a couple tournaments, and let the older guys run out their high school careers, at least until our end of the year district and regional tournaments. (HS golf is August through April here in Texas). I set up the schedule so that our first varsity tournament is a 2-person scramble, I'm playing my three seniors, two juniors, and a freshman. Hoping for a little bonding between two guys. What else can you suggest? What has worked on other teams? I'm getting them the little stuff they have been complaining about, matching towels, bag tags, etc. Which I think will add to the team feeling. We haven't been "uniform". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 No matter the sport, it still has to be to the point where the athletes are the ones taking ownership. What are different ways you could accentuate this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabiness42 Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 What is losing? Losing is a disease . . . as contagious as polio. Losing is a disease . . . as contagious as syphilis. Losing is a disease . . . as contagious as bubonic plague. Attacking one, but infecting all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
He_Gawn Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 As a fellow head coach (baseball), I'd advise one thing... Play the guys who give you the best chance to win. After all, it is your job. Two years ago I took on a rebuild and made it clear the best guys we're going to play (whether thats a senior or a freshman). The young guys were much more talented and had a much higher ceiling than the Jr's/Sr's, and boy did they take their lumps the past two years. Fast forward to this year, those kids are now Jr/Sr's and have the program ranked for the first time in years going into next season. Spend your time where it all starts.... At the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 The nice thing is I determine which events we enter. There isn't a district or conference schedule to contend with. Instead teams schedule invitationals or open tournaments and hope other teams sign up. I run one at a nice country club that has 18 holes and generally have about 200 players out there. Every player can play in as many as seven tournaments before our district tournament. So basically I could play two teams of five at any varsity event. Or have some of my underclassman play in JV tournaments and probably start winning a couple. The parental support has been amazing. I have committees for transportation, fundraising, and communications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 QUOTE (Heads22 @ Sep 15, 2014 -> 10:08 PM) No matter the sport, it still has to be to the point where the athletes are the ones taking ownership. What are different ways you could accentuate this? It starts with them taking ownership of their practices. I have 28 players out there. I've been working on one area with them each practice. I split them up into three groups, range, chips/pitching, and putting. Each day I am at a different station. I have a couple captains/better players who are now supervising the two areas I am not at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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